Public Expenditure on Child Nutrition in Karnataka

Transcription

1 Public Expenditure on Child Nutrition in Karnataka Introduction i

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3 Public Expenditure on Child Nutrition in Karnataka

4 2 Public Expenditure on Child Nutrition in Karnataka

5 Acknowledgements This study would not have been possible without the assistance of a number of people from different organisations. First, we would like to thank the UNICEF Office for Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka for providing financial assistance for this study. We sincerely thank all its members, especially Mr Deepak Kumar Dey for his support. Our colleagues at the Centre for Budget and Policy Studies (CBPS) have supported us in various capacities in completing this study. These include Ms Nikita D Cruz and Mr Praveen Nidagundi (background research and compilation of information), Mr Thyagarajan R. and Ms Shruti Padmanabhan (data collection), Mr Srinivas Alamuru (interpretation of budget documents) and Ms Usha P.V., Ms Mrinalika Pandit and Mr. Ramesh K.A. (administrative support). We thank them all for the cooperation extended. We also express our sincere gratitude to the Departments for Women and Child Development, Social Welfare, Backward Classes Welfare and Labour for providing us with the required budgetary documents for our reference and review. CBPS Research and Writing Team Madhusudhan B.V. Rao Nakul Nagaraj R. Maithreyi Jyotsna Jha Acknowledgements 3

6 List of Acronyms CDI : Child Development Index DHDR : District Human Development Report FFC : Fourteenth Finance Commission GDP : Gross Domestic Product GSDP : Gross State Domestic Product ICDS : Integrated Child Development Services KCRO : Karnataka Child Rights Observatory MDG : Millennium Development Goals MDM : Mid Day Meals MGNREGA : Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Act NCPCR : National Commission for Protection of Child Rights NHM : National Health Mission NRDWP : National Rural Drinking Water Programme NRLM : National Rural Livelihoods Mission PDS : Public Distribution System RSOC : Rapid Survey of Children SABLA : Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls SAM : Severe and Acute Malnutrition SBA : Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan SCPCR : State Commission for Protection of Child Rights SDG : Sustainable Development Goals SECC : Socio-Economic and Caste Census SUN : Scaling Up Nutrition UNCRC : United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child UNICEF : United Nations Children s Fund 4 Public Expenditure on Child Nutrition in Karnataka

7 Contents Acknowledgements... 3 List of Acronyms... 4 Chapter1: Introduction The importance of adequate and quality nutrition Rationale for public investments in nutrition Child undernutrition in India and Karnataka Addressing malnutrition critical to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Strategies for addressing malnutrition / improving efficacy of nutrition expenditure Context of the study Chapter 2: Public Resources For Nutrition In India: Structures, Estimates and Methodology Public expenditure: Responsibilities and mechanisms Public expenditure on children in India: Past trends Nutrition-specific interventions and nutrition-sensitive intervention Chapter 3: Public Expenditure on Nutrition in Karnataka Methodology A. Nutrition-sensitive expenditure B: Nutrition-specific expenditure Total expenditure on nutrition-sensitive interventions Total expenditure on nutrition-specific interventions Chapter 4: Conclusions and Suggestions References Annexure 1: Public Programmes And Schemes on Child Nutrition Annexure 2: Expenditure Tables Contents 5

8 List of Tables Table 1: Expenditures on important nutrition-sensitive interventions/schemes Table 2: Public expenditure on nutrition-specific interventions for children in Karnataka (Rs. in crores) Table 3: Distribution of nutrition expenditure across age groups ( actual expenditure) Table 4: Share of GOI and state in public expenditure on nutrition in Karnataka (Rs. in crores) List of Figures Figure 1: Cycle of undernutrition... 7 Figure 2: Return on investment in nutritional programmes... 9 Figure 3: Proportion of malnourished children and underweight children across Karnataka Figure 4: Nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions (Indian context) Figure 5: Nutrition interventions (Indian context) Figure 6: Nutrition-sensitive sectors...28 Figure 7: Share of nutrition-sensitive interventions/expenditures in total state expenditure (in %) Figure 8 : Nutrition-sensitive interventions/expenditure in nominal and real terms Figure 9: Public expenditure on nutrition-specific interventions for children in Karnataka Figure 10: Nutrition-specific expenditure as a proportion of total state expenditure Figure 11: Nutrition-specific expenditure as a proportion of total expenditure on children Figure 12: Nutrition-specific expenditure on children as a proportion of GSDP Figure 13: Share of nutrition expenditure on children in different age groups Figure 14: Share of centre and state in nutrition-specific expenditure on children Public Expenditure on Child Nutrition in Karnataka

9 Chapter 1 Introduction 1.1. The importance of adequate and quality nutrition The term nutrition refers to the availability of energy and nutrients to the body s cells in relation to body requirements (Mishra, Lahiri and Luther, 1999). When the foods consumed by an individual contain the required nutrients in adequate quantities, healthy growth becomes possible. Improper diets lead to malnutrition, which presents itself in the form of undernutrition and overnutrition (leading to obesity). While both pose serious health concerns, undernutrition, which results from insufficient food intake and repeated infectious diseases, is a greater concern in a developing country like India. Undernutrition causes growth retardation and developmental compromises and is particularly harmful during childhood, which is a period of rapid growth. Globally, three indicators are used to measure the extent of undernutrition: stunting (low height for age), wasting (low weight for height), and underweight (low weight for age). In addition, other indicators of undernutrition include severe acute malnutrition (SAM) marked by visible severe wasting and micronutrient deficiency (vitamin A, iron and iodine). Adequate nutrition is essential from the earliest stages of life for proper growth and development. The initial period of life between 0-6 years is crucial for brain development and can be hindered by a lack of adequate nutrition (UNICEF, 2013; Young, 1996). This period is vital to the development of important cognitive, motor and social skills. Other social and personal habits also begin to emerge during this period. Studies show that there can be irreversible physical and cognitive deficits, which can further affect future health status, educational achievement and economic productivity due a lack of adequate nutrition during the first 1000 days Figure 1 Cycle of Undernutrition Higher mortality rate Inadequate foetal nturition Woman malnurished Pregnancy low weight gain Impaired mental development Inadequate catch-up growth Baby low birth weight Child stunted Increased risk of adult cronic disease Untimely/inadequate feeding Frequent infections Inadequate food, health and care Reduced mental capasity Higher maternal mortality Adolescent stunted Inadequate food, health and care Inadequate food, health and care Reduced physical capasity and fat-free mass Source: Adapted from the C/SCN-appointed Commission on the Nutrition Challenges of the 21st Century Introduction 7

10 of life, i.e., in the first two years of life (UNICEF, 2013). Other studies have shown that non-steady supply of nutrients during the prenatal and early childhood period can have long-term effects, such as an increased risk of high blood pressure 4,5, heartrelated health problems 6 or even schizophrenia 7 (as cited in Mosler, 2015). Poor nutritional status during early childhood often gets worsened during adolescence, particularly in poor socio-economic communities (Chaturvedi et al., 1996). This has significant implications in post-infancy, critical to brain as well as other developments in a growing child. Research shows that many areas of the brain are not fully developed during early childhood and brain development continues through later childhood and adolescence. For example, the frontal lobe, the brain area responsible for higher order functions such as planning, problem solving and hypothesis-testing continues to develop right up to adulthood (Bryan et al., 2004). Adequate financial investment and nutritional support during childhood is vital as it also becomes Adequate financial investment and nutritional support during childhood is vital as it also becomes the foundation for development during later stages the foundation for development during later stages (UNICEF, 2001). 1.2 Rationale for public investments in nutrition 1.2.i. Economic benefits of public investments in nutrition Undernutrition also leads to loss in the productivity of an individual and his/her capacity for work. The World Bank has estimated that the annual cost of malnutrition to the world economy is approximately $80 billion, of which the direct cost to the Indian economy is around $10 billion, and the total costs, direct and indirect, are 23% of the [Gross Domestic Product] GDP (Dehejia, 2011). Thus, undernutrition is a serious challenge that affects individual development as well as the 8 Public Expenditure on Child Nutrition in Karnataka

11 Figure 2 Return of investment in nutritional programmes Good nutrition supports productive lives Good nutrition increases earning capacity Partnership is key to improving nutrition Ending malnutrition supports stable societies Good nutrition makes for good health Sustainable food production can improve nutrition Good nutrition drives up 10 levels Nutrition at the heart of SDGs Every $1 invested gives $16 return nutritional states Healthy dietary choices can be good for the planet Seasonal effects influence Reliable food supply helps stabilize food prices Good nutrition supports women s development 50% of malnutrition is linked to poor sanitation Essential for producing food and thus nutrition 0.9% of GDP is lost to iron deficiency alone Essential for innovations to improve nutrition Almost 50% of countries experience malnutrition Malnutrition is widespread in slums/shanty towns Nutrition is a vital precondition for achieving these goals Achieving these goals supports nutrition Source: Introduction 9

12 development of the country. At the individual level, undernutrition or poor nutrition can lead to poorer ability to avail economic opportunities, lower wages and poverty. At a macroeconomic level, the problem of undernutrition has inter-generational and cyclical effects. Hunger and undernutrition may be passed on to future generations as a result of poverty, which poses serious concerns for individual survival as well as the economic and social development of the country as a whole. Various studies have analysed the financial returns of investing in nutrition initiatives. Research has indicated that improving nutrition is one of the single most effective investments in reducing child mortality as well as in improving development indicators for a nation. Health and nutrition interventions have demonstrated higher benefit-cost ratios when compared with other investments to improve children s development status that occupy competing positions in global developmental agendas (cf. Alderman, Behrman and Hoddinott, 2007; Belli, Bustreo and Preker, 2005). Particularly in South Asia, studies show the benefit-cost ratio to exceed one with higher than market internal rates of return on investment (Hoddinott et al., 2013; Mosler, 2015). With respect to India, too, studies have noted the economic benefits of investing in nutrition programmes. In a paper titled The Economic Returns of Stopping Stunting in India? A State 7 wise Cost-Benefit Analysis, Mosler (2015) has argued that an effort to counter the problem of stunting among children in India is not only necessary but is also an investment which will yield a good rate of return. Based on various national and international data, Mosler argues that investments in nutrition show a benefit-cost ratio of higher than one for all states in India. Almost two-thirds of the states, according to his study, show a benefitcost ratio of 10:1 (which implies that the returns Hunger and undernutrition may be passed on to future generations as a result of povertywhich poses serious concerns for individual survival as well as the economic and social development of the country as a whole. from the investment are ten times the cost of the investment). Further, he has demonstrated that for every one US dollar invested in childstunting reduction programmes, an economic gain of above 16 US dollars might be made (Figure 2) (under the medium impact scenario, which is defined as a situation of reducing child stunting by 20 per cent). Other studies have estimated the cost-benefit ratio of investing in nutrition to be 1:16 at a compound growth rate of 10 per cent return (Mebrahtu and Sethi, 2016) which translates into a return of Rs for every rupee invested on essential nutritional interventions. This has been calculated based on nutritional interventions which include nutritional counselling, food and micronutrient supplementation and health services at appropriate times, ensuring adequate coverage of target populations. The costs of these essential nutritional interventions are estimated at Rs 38,550 crore per year for the entire country (Chakraborti and Menon, 2016). 1.2.ii. Importance of investing in nutrition from a child rights perspective In addition to an economic rationale for investing in nutrition programmes for children, the importance stems from a child rights perspective and India s commitment to several child rights treaties. While nutrition is not a recognised right in any of the major international human rights instruments (Jonsson, 1996), it is indirectly covered through guarantees to food, basic health services and adequate caring practices in major conventions and policies on the protection of the child, such 8 as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC, 1989). Jonsson (1996) argues that As food, health and care are all necessary, and in combination will ensure good nutrition, nutrition, in this sense becomes a right. One of the fundamental UNCRC principles is the basic right to survival and development, which includes rights to life, education and access to opportunities for development. The UNCRC also guarantees all children access to early childhood care and developmental progress, which can be interpreted as a key pointer that also serves as a guarantee to nutrition for children worldwide. The UNCRC s resolution was followed by the World Summit for Children (WSC) in 1990, where in eight 10 Public Expenditure on Child Nutrition in Karnataka

13 nutrition-related goals were targeted and a plan of action for implementing the World Declaration on the Survival, Protection and Development of Children was signed by most states. A major goal agreed upon at this meet included the reduction by half of moderate and severe malnutrition among children under five, between 1990 and Reduction of child malnutrition was once again reiterated in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) adopted by the United Nations and ratified by 189 nations that made a promise to free people from extreme poverty and multiple deprivations. Reduction of underweight children under five was identified as one of the indicators of achieving the first goal of the MDGs eradicating extreme poverty and hunger (Patwari, 2013). Further, the fourth goal of the MDGs focuses on child health and reduction in child mortality. Taken together, these two goals again provide significant emphasis on ensuring child nutrition. Following the MDGs Summit, the UN General Assembly organised another meet to deliberate a plan to create a World Fit for Children, in At the meet, the importance of the Care for Every Child was reiterated, with a declaration that: Children must get the best possible start in life. Their survival, protection, growth and development in good health and with proper nutrition is the essential foundation of human development. We will make concerted efforts to fight infectious diseases, tackle major causes of malnutrition and nurture children in a safe environment that enables them to be physically healthy, mentally alert, emotionally secure, socially competent and able to learn (UNICEF, 2002; as cited in Rao, 2005). Within both the MDGs and the declaration on a World Fit for Children, nutrition has been conceived multi-dimensionally to include more than just access to food, recognising as Freeman (2000) notes, that: Good nutrition does not only mean that all nutritional requirements are met (as needs) but that these needs are met in a sustainable and dignified way. Nutrition as Introduction 11

14 a right implies the realisation of the child s rights to food, care and health (Jonsson, 1997, p. 376). It also 9 implies... the realisation of the right to basic education, to a minimum amount of resources and the right to information. Within these various frameworks that seek to ensure nutritional justice, access to nutrition forms just one dimension, while aspects such as ensuring quality nutrition and sustaining the gains made from eradicating nutritional insecurity are equally emphasised (Jonsson, 1996). The Indian constitution encompasses most rights included in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) as fundamental rights and directive principles of state policy. India is a signatory of the UNCRC as well as the MDGs (and now the Sustainable Development Goals [SDGs]). This makes it imperative for the Indian state to protect a child s right to survival, development and nutrition. The Indian constitution also reinforces the need to pay attention to children s health and development and indirectly nutrition. Rao (2005) has noted that: The Indian Constitution has numerous safeguards to ensure children s rights to survival, protection, and development, and a number of policies are directly concerned with child development. In addition to these policies, there is a wide range of laws that are designed to extensively protect the rights and entitlements that are guaranteed by the constitution. The table below shows some of the articles of the constitution that directly and indirectly make guarantees for children s nutrition. The Indian constitution encompasses most rights included in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) as fundamental rights and directive principles of state policy. Article 21(a) The State shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of 6 14 years in such manner as the State may, by law, determine. Article 24 No child below the age of 14 years shall be employed to work in any factory or mine or engaged in any other hazardous employment. Article 39(e) The health and strength of workers, men and women, and children of tender age shall not be abused and that citizens shall not be forced by economic necessity to enter avocations unsuited to their age or strength Article 39(f) Children shall be given opportunities and facilities to develop in a healthy manner and in conditions of freedom and dignity and childhood and youth shall be protected against exploitation and against moral and material abandonment Article 45 The State shall endeavour to provide early childhood care and education for all children until they complete the age of 6 years. Article 47 The State shall regard the raising of the level of nutrition and the standard of living of its people and the improvement of public health as among its primary duties. Recognising the vital importance of investing in children s early nutrition needs, both from a rights-based perspective as well as from concerns of reducing long-term costs of secondary 10 handicaps resulting from undernutrition, as well as in order to meet its other goals on gender parity in schooling and workforce participation 1 (Rao, 2005), the government of India (GoI) has put in place several programmes on nutrition. However, despite this, the rate of progress has been slow and much remains to be done in terms of safeguarding children s rights to adequate 1 This is based on the argument that having early childhood care and education programmes can allow women to join or return to the workforce. 12 Public Expenditure on Child Nutrition in Karnataka

15 nutrition and health (Evans, 2000). In the following section, we undertake a brief review of the status of child nutrition in India in general and Karnataka in particular. Critical gaps in achieving the desired impact through various nutritional programmes in place, we argue, may be a result of the lack of alignment between policies to promote health with other policies for economic and social development, including access to school education, provisions for safe drinking water, sanitation, housing, women s empowerment, and so on (Planning Commission, 2002; Rao, 2005). 1.3 Child undernutrition in India and Karnataka India currently still records the highest number of undernourished and under-weight children in the world, higher than even sub-saharan Africa (Ramachandran, 2014). Forty-seven million children under the age of five in India are stunted (Tripathi, 2016). An analysis of the recent Rapid Survey of Children (RSOC) 2 by Dasgupta et al. (2016) compared the progress in relation to the third National Family Health Survey NFHS-III ( ) with respect to various health indicators, along with nutrition. The authors showed that while there have been improvements in child malnutrition since , absolute levels of child malnutrition continue to be high. The prevalence of stunting had reduced from 48% to 38.7% among children under five, while the prevalence of underweight children has reduced from 42.5% to 29.4%, and wasting from 19.8% to 15.1%. However, a disturbing trend reported by the authors is that some states have seen an increase in rates of wasting with a decline in rates of stunting. While Karnataka is a relatively better-faring state in terms of indicators of child health and nutrition, the nutrition scenario in the state is a cause for concern when compared with other southern states such as Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Kerala. According to NFHS-III data, Karnataka performed relatively worse on indicators such as Infant Mortality Rate (IMR in Karnataka, 30.4 in Tamil Nadu and 15.3 in Kerala) and Under-5 The prevalence of stunting had reduced from 48% to 38.7% among children under five, while the prevalence of underweight children has reduced from 42.5% to 29.4%, and wasting from 19.8% to15.1%. Mortality Rate (U5MR 54.7 in Karnataka, 35.5 for Tamil Nadu and 16.3 in Kerala) compared to these other states. The percentage of children under three who were stunted in Karnataka was also higher than the national average, according to NFHS-III (i.e., 42.4 for Karnataka as compared to 38.4 at the national level). 3 These indicators have shown some improvement according to the latest, fourth round of the NFHS data (NFHS- IV, ). For example, IMR and U5MR have reduced to 28 and 32 respectively. Other indicators have shown little improvement from NFHS-III. For example, the percentage of children under five who are under-weight has reduced from 37.6% to 35.2%; percentage of children between 6-59 months who are anaemic has reduced from 70.3% to 60.9%. NFHS-IV 4 data also highlights an increase in the proportion of children under five who are moderately or severely wasted, which is a matter of concern. The RSoC conducted in estimates that in Karnataka 34.2% of children under the age of five are stunted while 15.1% are severely stunted. Moreover, 28.9% of children in the same age group have reported underweight, of whom 9.8% are said to be severely underweight. The Child Development Index (CDI) based on the four parameters (proportion of children fully immunised, female literacy rate among age group, proportion of births preceded by complete antenatal check-ups and proportion of underweight children in the same age group) indicated that Karnataka improved its index value from in the year to during , as well as its ranking from ninth to seventh position during the same period (Khera and Drèze, 2016). Interdistrict disparities in the incidence of malnutrition 2 Conducted jointly by Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India and UNICEF in Source: Karnataka Comprehensive Nutrition Mission: Concept Paper (Government of Karnataka, n.d.) 4 Introduction 13

16 Figure 3 Proportion of malnourished and underweight children across districts in Karnataka % Malnourished Children % of Children born underweight Percentage (%) Koppal Raichur Vijayapura Bidar Bagalkot Gadag Kalaburagi Haveri Belagavi Ballari Kolar Chikkaballapur Yadgir Chitradurga Chamrajnagar Davanagere Mysuru Bengaluru Urban Shivamogga Hassan Uttara Kannada Chikmagalur Bengaluru Rural Ramnagara Dharwad Tumakuru Mandya Dakshin Kannada Udupi Kodagu Source: Human Development: Performance of Districts, Taluks and Urban Local Bodies in Karnataka A snapshot (2014), Government of Karnataka (GoK). are also high in Karnataka. Koppal, Raichur, Vijayapura and other northern districts have the highest proportions of malnourished children (Figure 3). The continued prevalence of these high rates of malnutrition are directly related to the poor quality of nutrition accessible to/adopted by a majority of the population. Studies have noted that the average calorie consumption among Indians since has consistently seen a downward trend both among urban as well as rural households (Ramachandran, 2014). Moreover, calorie consumption per capita has been found to be below the minimum norms laid down by the Planning Commission Task Force in 1979 (Ramachandran, 2014). While consuming sufficient calories is an important determinant, other factors also contribute to the poor nutritional status. For example, Deaton and Drèze (2009) have pointed out the inadequacies of the Indian diet, which is largely cereal-based, but poor on other sources of nutrition such as fruits, vegetables, fats and proteins, critical in retaining calories and fighting diseases. Other studies have also found that over 70% of the Indian population was found to have a micronutrient intake of less than 50% of the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) levels (Kotecha, 2011). This has resulted inproblems of morbidity, mortality and, at a macrolevel, a loss of one per cent to the GDP (Kotecha, 2011). Similarly, other studies have demonstrated a higher prevalence of malnutrition among older infants, resulting from poor feeding practices. For example, Kilaru et al. (2005) have pointed out that prevalence of malnutrition is higher among children between six and eleven months (39 per cent), compared to those below six months (6 per cent), corresponding with the shift in diet from only breast feeding to inclusion of complementary food. This has been associated with a lack of appropriate knowledge of young child feeding and nutritional care among caregivers. The authors found that education has been effective in reducing diarrhoea, increasing calorific intake and prolonging breastfeeding. There is indeed a need for more holistic interventions related to nutrition, focusing both on provision of food, as well as addressing other factors that affect nutrition, such as education, water and sanitation in Karnataka and in the country as a whole. 1.4 Addressing malnutrition critical to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) The 2016 Global Nutrition Report has provided wide and holistic insights into the problems the world faces with respect to malnutrition. It is no surprise that malnutrition has cascading effects at the individual, national and international levels, as the 14 Public Expenditure on Child Nutrition in Karnataka

17 report highlights. The problem has been known to affect an individual s physical and cognitive growth and development, making her more susceptible to infections and placing her at a higher risk of chronic diseases. This, in turn, has been linked to losses in the GDP to the tune of 11% in Africa and Asia. Apart from that, many individuals affected by these chronic illnesses spend a large proportion of their income on obtaining treatment. Therefore, it is important that the expenditure on nutrition, which has one of the highest rates of return on investment, is prioritised. There is a call to end malnutrition in all its forms by the year 2030, which refers to ending childstunting, wasting and micronutrient deficiencies, and preventing non-communicable diseases. The Global Nutrition Report also called for greater political will in combating the issue, investing in proven solutions while finding new solutions to tackle malnutrition. Moreover, malnutrition is directly or indirectly linked to 12 of the 17 SDGs, which makes it important for countries to commit to solving the problem. This can only be done with effective investment and better allocations. For example, low-to-middle-income countries invest just 2.1% of their expenditure on malnutrition while at the same time spend approximately 30% on agriculture, education and other social priorities. 1.5 Strategies for addressing malnutrition/improving efficacy of nutritionexpenditure Combating child malnutrition requires holistic approaches that cut across different groups and sectors. Studies show that the efficacy of a nutritional programme depends on its ability to integrate aspects such as health, education, nutrition, social and economic development. Also noted is that the benefits of these programmes are higher for younger children than older children (Chopra, 2015). Large-scale nutritional initiatives have been focused on reducing the gap between the RDA and the average daily intake (ADI) for young children and pregnant and lactating mothers with the hope that it, in turn, reduces low birth weight, anaemia while improving child growth and enhancing cognitive development. The interventions in addressing these issues have Moreover, malnutrition is directly or indirectly linked to 12 of the 17 SDGs, which makes important for countries to commit to solving the problem. largely been in terms of correcting the imbalanced/ insufficient food intake rather than making provision for RDA-based consumption in order to ensure adequate nutrition (Deaton and Drèze,2009). Considering the multidimensional nature of the nutritional problem, the Coalition of Sustainable Nutrition Security in India, chaired by Dr M.S. Swaminathan (2010), has made the following recommendations based on a continuum of care approach (i.e., right from the conception to two years after child birth or the first 1000 days of care continuum to have a greater impact on reduction of intergenerational malnutrition): 1. Early initiation of breastfeeding (within one hour) reduces neonatal mortality, improves immunity and prevents infections. 2. Exclusive breastfeeding (for six months) increases immunity and prevents onset of early infections, improves child survival and development. 3. Timely introduction of complementary feeding (after six months) contributes to growth and development, reduces stunting. 4. Age-appropriate complementary feeding, adequate in terms of quality, quantity and frequency for children in age group 6-24 months contributes to growth and development, reduces stunting. 5. Safe handling of complementary foods and hygienic complementary feeding practices reduces infections and stunting. 6. Adequate feeding during and after illness prevents wasting. 7. Immunisation and micronutrient supplementation (Vitamin A, Iron and Zinc) improves immunity, better survival. 8. Adequate feeding for severely undernourished addresses wasting and reduces mortality. 9. Adequate nutrition for adolescent girls and women of reproductive age reduces stunting by improving maternal nutrition. Introduction 15

18 10. Adequate nutrition for pregnant and lactating women reduces stunting by improving maternal nutrition. However, it is important to bear in mind that factors contributing to malnutrition are several and include poor socio-economic conditions of marginalised populations (Lokshin et al., 2005), lack of adequate food security, healthcare provisions and civic services (Rao, 2005). Addressing malnutrition requires addressing these other concerns as well. These findings have been reiterated by the special committee appointed by the High Court of Karnataka, under the chairmanship of Justice N.K. Patil in 2012, to address the high prevalence of malnutrition in the state. The committee identified similar factors and also noted that some of the leading causes of malnutrition within the state were not just attributed to female literacy or mother s education levels, but to a whole lot of environmental determinants like poverty, food insecurity, poor breastfeeding practices, gender discrimination and early marriage, among other factors. The pathways to malnutrition, as pointed out by UNICEF (1990), result from both macroeconomic factors as well as micro-dynamics within households and families. UNICEF (1990) has identified certain importance linkages in explaining malnutrition: inadequate usage of resources due to political, cultural, religious, economic and social factors, such as women s status and inadequate and/or inappropriate knowledge and attitudes, which limit household access to actual resources. This leads to the underlying causes at the household level, like insufficient access to food, inadequate maternal and child care, poor water sanitation and inadequate health services. Eventually, this contributes to inadequate dietary intake and leads to diseases which are the immediate cause for childhood malnutrition, disability and later mortality. Improving the nutritional status of children requires bringing about improvements in a whole range of public infrastructure and services, including improvements in delivery systems of food rations, increasing accessibility of clean drinking water and improving infrastructure for health and sanitation. Apart from infrastructural issues, beneficiaries also need to be better educated about best practices. The lack of awareness about appropriate food types and nutritional needs and myths perpetuated 16 Public Expenditure on Child Nutrition in Karnataka

19 by cultural practices are also among the underlying causes of malnutrition, even in families where adults are able to meet their dietary requirements (Kilaruet el., 2005). Finally, in order for large-scale nutritional initiatives to work certain political commitment, national policies and programmes based on sound evidence and analysis, the presence of trained and skilled community workers collaborating with communities, effective communication and advocacy, and multi-sectoral, integrated service delivery (UNICEF, 2013) are essential. 1.6 Context of the study Nutritional initiatives have an immense potential to change the economies of nations while improving and, more specifically, changing the lives of individuals. These nutritional initiatives require meticulous planning, effective implementation, ensuring adequate human resources and maintaining a continuous supply of provisions, among other factors. While such programmes are not always inexpensive, it is up to the state-run institutions to ensure that they remain adequately funded while running efficiently and that they are constantly assessed. Karnataka, a pioneer in the field of decentralisation, has made considerable economic progress but its health and nutrition indicators are much worse than other southern Indian states such as Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Consequent to the implementation of recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission (FFC), a higher proportion of central taxes was shared with states and while funds to the centrally sponsored schemes decreased starting from This calls for a rationalisation of schemes at the state level to ensure higher allocation towards health and nutrition-related schemes to offset the deficit in the allocation of funds from the centre. Karnataka state had brought out a policy on children affirming its intent and commitment towards the holistic development of children. 5 Nutrition has assumed a greater focus with schemes focusing on improving the nutrition levels of pregnant women, lactating mothers, Anganwadi and school children. The GoK is also committed to bring out a budget statement on the lines of the Statement 12 (earlier Statement 22) of the GoI. It has also brought out policies for women s empowerment and for the girl child. 6 Karnataka has several state-constituted bodies to protect the interests of children, which include the Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR), Karnataka Child Rights Observatory (KCRO), a Legislators Forum for advancing child rights and the recently constituted Food Commission. The state has several other organisations working for the welfare of the children from the child rights perspective. This report attempts to analyse the patterns and trends observed in public expenditure on nutrition in Karnataka. The analysis focuses on various nutritionrelated expenditures incurred over a period of five years ( to ). The report is also an attempt to observe whether efforts from multiple agencies have translated into enhanced allocations for children s nutrition in the state. 5 Karnataka state policy for Children 2014-draft 6 Introduction 17

20 18 Public Expenditure on Child Nutrition in Karnataka

21 Chapter 2 Public Resources for Nutrition in India Structures, Estimates and Methodology 2.1 Public expenditure responsibilities and mechanisms Government has a major role in translating its commitments towards SDGs and the UNCRC into goals, targets, milestones and programmes. In ensuring child rights, the responsibilities are shared between the GoI and state governments. Most responsibilities relating to health, education and nutrition fall under the state and concurrent lists. 7 The policies, goals and programmes designed emanate from this framework of responsibilities. Apart from formulation of policies, the creation of institutions particularly addressing child nutrition, which will undertake research, create evidence and guide the formulation of programmes and customise them to suit the varying conditions across the country, are equally important. The creation of institutions such as the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) and State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) play important roles in protecting child rights. Addressing poverty, healthcare, drinking water and sanitation, critical to improving nutrition is also part of good governance. The national policy on children (2013) emphasises the need for a multi-sectoral and multidimensional approach to secure the rights of children in the four major areas of survival, health and nutrition, education and development, and protection and participation. It also calls for convergence across sectors and coordination at different levels of governance. One of the ways to demonstrate their commitment to addressing nutrition issues is for the government to allocate more public resources towards it. Public resources are made available at GoI, state government and sub-state government levels, through budgets. The implementation of these developmental programmes is at substate and block/taluk levels. Though there are stated nutritional goals, there are no stated target expenditures the state must incur towards these goals. The funds and functionaries to third-tier governments (Panchayati Raj institutions [PRIs] and urban local bodies [ULBs]) depend on the functions devolved to them. This also needs to be taken into consideration while assessing the flow of funds towards sectors that support nutrition, such as water and sanitation. The Constitution of India mandates higher expenditure responsibilities and lower taxation powers to state governments while the GoI has been given higher taxation powers (with buoyant sources for better tax collection and management) and lower expenditure responsibilities. The Constitution also has made provision for formation of a Finance Commission (FC), every five years, to look into the taxation and to recommend to the GoI a suitable formula for sharing revenue with the states (also called vertical devolution). The FC also recommends the share of each state (also called The creation of institutions such as the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) and State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) play important roles in protecting child rights. 7 The legislative section in the Seventh Schedule of the Indian constitution is divided into three lists: Union List, State List and Concurrent List. Union government makes laws and policies for the Union List, state governments for the state list and both the union and state governments formulate laws and policies for the Concurrent List. Union government has the right to make laws and policies on the residual areas that do not figure in any of these. Public Resources for Nutrition in India Structures, Estimates and Methodology 19

22 horizontal devolution) considering various factors such as area, population, per capita income, forest cover, etc. GoI resources to states follow two routes: one is the share of tax revenue while the other is in the form of schemes/developmental grants. While the former is untied, the latter is tied to the purpose and often linked to the achievement of nationally prioritised goals, requiring the state to contribute its share in the implementation of programmes/schemes. Important programmes such as Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), Mid-day Meals (MDM), National Health Mission (NHM), Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Act (MGNREGA), National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM), Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan (SBA), and National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) are examples of tied resources. In most of these, the state government also contributes its own resources based on a specific sharing formula agreed for respective schemes. The FFC recommended the sharing of taxes for the period to increase from 32% ( ) to 42%, which resulted in a significant jump in the amount of fund flows to states. However, the FFC recommended a nominal increase in the total outflow of resources to state from 62.9% to 63.2%. This essentially meant that though the outflow of resources to states almost remains same, the amount of funds by way of untied funds (share of taxes) has gone up, which increases the scope (referred to as fiscal space) for states to undertake customised developmental projects. With the share of funds in the form of schemes reducing from around 30% to 20%, budgets for important national schemes such as ICDS, MDM, NHM (with the critical component of nutrition) have begun to shrink since the year , at least from the GoI. State governments are expected to rise to the situation and rationalise the schemes implemented in the state to suit the requirements and fill the deficit in GoI funding on schemes of national importance. 2.2 Public expenditure on children in India: Past trends The GoI expenditure on nutrition-specific interventions reduced from Rs. 27,220 crore in 20 Public Expenditure on Child Nutrition in Karnataka

23 to Rs. 25,573 crore (BE). The analysis of expenditure on nutrition-specific interventions in the states of Maharashtra, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh indicated that budget outlays on nutrition as a percent of total expenditure showed a reduction during (FFC period) except for Maharashtra (Srivastava, 2016). Flair et al. (2015) note that despite promises made by GoI to increase public investment in agriculture, overall allocation to the Ministry of Agriculture witnessed a decline in budget estimates (BE) from the revised estimates (RE). Allocations to improve sanitation and drinking water access, which are closely linked to the development of a child have seen a fall in allocation compared to the (RE). The food subsidy provided by the GoI rose from to (RE), but it decreased in (BE). The study also indicates that the share of the nutrition expenditure in the total budget as well as percent of GDP is not sufficient given the country s imminent battle against malnutrition. Save the Children (2016) noted that the GoI budget of had not provided adequate attention to children. The allocation to Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) was 1.14 per cent of the total budget witnessing, a decrease in the share compared to (BE) which was 1.55 per cent of the total budget. The allocation for the mid-day meal scheme also witnessed a fall. Budgets in India have historically failed to set a good precedent in allocations for children despite children forming 39% of the total population in India. Programmes and services for children are allocated less than 3.2% of the total budget allocation (The Citizen Bureau, 2016). Krishnan (2016) reports a significant decrease in the allocation for ICDS in as compared to earlier years. While the requirements for addressing nutrition issues are compiled by experts cutting across disciplines and departments, the budgets allocated and expenditures incurred are not compiled in a compartmentalised manner making the task of analysing total expenditure on nutrition difficult and challenging. This requires pooling information across departments and at times at different levels of governments. Conventional evaluations of schemes focusing on single schemes such as ICDS or MDM do not look into all aspects of children/nutrition. Different departments implement different schemes relating to nutrition. Hostels are run by the Backward Classes Welfare Department (BCWD) while MDM is with the Department of Education (DoE) and supply of Vitamin A and folic acid tablets is with Department of Healthand Family Welfare (DoHFW). The GoI and GoK have several schemes with the objective of addressing the nutrition deficit among children, adolescents and women, especially pregnant and lactating women. Some of these can also be interpreted as defining the entitlements of citizens of different age-groups vis-à-vis state action. The Appendix lists the schemes and discusses relevant details. 2.3 Nutrition-specific interventions and nutrition-sensitive interventions The fact that malnutrition is a multifaceted problem needs to be acknowledged in the first place. This helps in identifying the causes for malnutrition that cut across a number of sectors. Just like food security and adequate care practices, access to a healthy environment and health services are also important factors for optimal growth. It is also important to acknowledge that each of these factors is necessary but not sufficient. It has been argued that sustainable solutions to problems of nutrition/malnutrition require governments to adopt alternative conceptual frameworks that do not view malnutrition as simply a lack of food alone (Jonsson, 1996). Others have similarly argued that large-scale interventions that seek to address and rectify problems related The allocation for the mid-day meal scheme also witnessed a fall. Budgets in India have historically failed to set a good precedent in allocations for children despite children forming 39% of the total population in India. Public Resources for Nutrition in India Structures, Estimates and Methodology 21

24 to nutrition and accelerate progress towards health must both focus on nutrition-specific programmes as well as on those that are nutrition-sensitive (i.e., address underlying causes of undernutrition; Ruel et al., 2013). This implies designing public policies that address larger concerns of social security and protection as well, such as providing support to agriculture, designing social safety nets that ensure food security, women s empowerment, education and schooling, sanitation and hygiene, etc. (Jha and Acharya, 2016; Ruel et al., 2013). In fact, studies conducted in countries of the global south have proven greater effectiveness of social security programmes in combating persistent hunger, which in turn can help effectively combat malnutrition (Jha and Acharya, 2016). The Lancet in its 2013 series 8 focusing on maternal and child nutrition highlighted the importance of nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions. It pointed out that nutrition-specific interventions with coverage of over 90% can reduce stunting among children by 20 per cent while the remaining 80 per cent reduction can be achieved through effective nutrition-sensitive interventions which impact the determinants of foetal and child development. Programmes relating to agriculture, livestock, fisheries, social safety nets, education and health are, therefore, more effective. However, this does not undermine the importance of nutrition-specific interventions critical in addressing the inter-generational nature of malnutrition among children. Nutrition-specific interventions address the immediate causes of undernutrition, like inadequate dietary intake and underlying causes like feeding practices and access to food. This includes adolescence, pre-conception maternal health and nutrition; maternal dietary ormicronutrient supplementation; promotion of optimum breastfeeding; complementary feeding and responsive feeding practices and stimulation; dietary supplementation; diversification and micronutrient supplementation or fortification for children; treatment of severe acute malnutrition; disease prevention and management; nutrition in emergencies. Nutrition-sensitive interventions Programmes relating to agriculture, livestock, fisheries, social safety nets, education and health are, therefore, more effective. address some of the underlying and basic causes of malnutrition by incorporating nutrition goals and actions from a wide range of sectors. They can also serve as delivery platforms for nutrition-specific interventions. Addressing malnutrition can be prioritised effectively, especially in developing economies, through nutrition-sensitive interventions and nutrition-specific interventions. The primary objective of nutrition-sensitive interventions is not just nutrition; they have the potential to improve food and nutrition security (Samba and Chahid, 2014). Family planning and secondary education have a direct bearing on reducing teenage pregnancies as well as in increasing birthspacing. The programmes focusing on antenatal care, interventions to improve water, sanitation and hygiene, social protection, agriculture and food security are part of nutrition-sensitive interventions (World Food Programme, 2014). Programmes that boost agricultural production help keep prices low, enhance access to diverse diets and support livelihoods. Research has indicated that investment in nutrition as part of education programmes improve academic achievement and the efficiency of the programmes. Education positively contributes to women empowerment, delays age of marriage, prepares young women to be informed and empowers mothers. Social security programmes decrease the vulnerability of families, especially among the poor and contribute to the reduction in child and maternal mortalities. Healthcare and public health facilities and nutrition are closely linked and impact the development of an individual. It is well-demonstrated that basic sanitation and safe drinking water can enhance the efficacy of nutrition interventions as well as play significant roles in reducing child mortality. 8 lancet.com/series/maternal-and-child-nutrition 22 Public Expenditure on Child Nutrition in Karnataka

25 Definitions by The Lancet series, and SUN Movement The Lancet series The Lancet series (2013) on maternal and child nutrition clubbed ten proven interventions addressing maternal nutrition, infant and young child feeding, breastfeeding and complementary foods, micronutrient deficiencies and management of acute malnutrition as nutrition-specific interventions which would be able to avert 0.9 million child deaths (<5 years) and reduce the stunting population by one-fifth (33 million) once the coverage of these interventions gets extended to 90% of the population. The cost of reaching 90% coverage was estimated at 9.6 billion USD per year. Activities addressing underlying determinants of nutrition, such as programmes in agriculture, cash transfers, early child development and schooling, shown to improve nutrition and broader developmental outcomes for children, were termed nutritionsensitive activities. Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement 10 The SUN movement defined nutritionspecific interventions to include support for exclusive breastfeeding upto six months and appropriate nutritious food along with breast-feeding upto two years, fortification of foods along with micronutrient supplementation and treatment of severe malnutrition. Nutrition-sensitive interventions were to include efforts to increase agricultural production, improve provision of clean water and sanitation, enhance education and employment, augment healthcare, enlarge the support for resilience, and supplement women s empowerment. Limitations There is no clear consensus 11 on interventions classified as nutrition-sensitive but they broadly include agriculture, food security, healthcare, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) activities. This is partly because of the fact that research/ evaluations may fail to notice or do not cover unintended positive externalities of developmental programmes impacting nutrition. Agriculture Public Resources for Nutrition in India Structures, Estimates and Methodology 23

26 Figure 4 Nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions (Indian context) BOX 1: Nutrition-Specific and Nutrition-Sensitive Intervention Nutrition-specific interventions 1. Early initiation of breastfeeding within one hour of birth 2. Exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months 3. Timely introduction of complementary feeding after completion of six months 4. Age-appropriate complementary feeding, adequate in terms of quality, quantity and frequency for children in age group 6-24 months 5. Safe handling of complementary foods and hygienic complementary feeding practices 6. Preventive micronutrient supplementation and deworming (Vitamin A, Iron, Zinc and Iodine) 7. Frequent, appropriate and active feeding for children during and after illness 8. Timely and quality therapeutic feeding and care for all children with severe wasting 9. Improved food and nutrient intake for adolescent girls particularly, to prevent anaemia 10. Improved food and nutrient intake for women, including preconception, pregnancy and lactation these include access to consumption of fortified foods, iodised salt, iron and folic acid supplements and supplementary foods (in food-insecure settings) Nutrition-sensitive interventions 1. Health sector Improving antenatal coverage and quality, particularly in first trimester Strengthening immunisation services Preventing and treating pneumonia, diarrhea and malaria. Family planning to prevent pregnancies too early, too many and too soon 2. Water, Hygiene and Sanitation sector Maintenance of water supply adequate quality and quantity Eliminating the practice of open defecation 3. Education sector Early stimulation and learning (ECCD) Schools as delivery platforms for nutrition interventions Promoting secondary education of girls 4. Agriculture sector Availability and access to diverse nutrient-dense foods coming from production, valve-chain interventions or markets 5. Poverty alleviation Reduce nutrition vulnerability and support nutrition-focus in livelihoods among the poor and socially-disadvantaged populations 6. Social safety nets Access to and use of food, entitlements and services, including through conditional and unconditional cash/social transfers that provide or substitute for income Over-arching & enabling environment to ensure budgets, targets, strategies Ministry responsible Health Health Women and Child Women and Child Women and Child Health Health Health Health/ Women and Child Health/ Women and Child Health Drinking Water and Sanitation Human Resource Development Agriculture Rural Development/ Labor Food and Civil Supplies Women and Child Development NITI Aayog Source: Budget Track on Nutrition, CBGA (2016) 24 Public Expenditure on Child Nutrition in Karnataka

27 promoting the productivity of homestead plots may significantly aid nutrition but measuring it would be difficult unless it is part of the programme. There are challenges around building the evidence for nutrition-sensitive activities and grouping them. 12 The limitations are not just in identifying nutritionsensitive programmes but also in ascertaining the expenditures that have impacted nutrition. In the Indian context, while the analysis of nutrition-specific interventions is possible, scanning the different interventions along with their expenditures is a daunting task. Analysis of nutrition-sensitive expenditures is far more difficult and complex, given the expenditures that affect the underlying causes of nutrition. Analysis of expenditures on nutrition-sensitive interventions becomes further complicated once we interpret it for the children. Tagging for age is extremely difficult and questionable in the absence of usedata. Nutrition-sensitive programmes, by and large, aim at family welfare as a whole, and some programmes, such as those of social safety nets, cannot be classified as expenditure on children alone. All programmes related to education, health, agriculture, irrigation, rural development, food security, social security benefits, have an impact on nutrition and this becomes an exhaustive list when the expenditures of both GoI and of the states are considered together. The analysis of nutritionsensitive expenditures of GoI is relatively easier compared to those of the states. States have their own schemes that supplement or complement the schemes of the GoI. An analysis of GoI nutrition-sensitive interventions/ schemes in four states (Bihar, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Uttar Pradesh) was undertaken by the Centre for Budget and Governance Accountability (CBGA). The analysis looked into different programmes/ schemes in the budget that address malnutrition and grouped them into nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions. The analysis also grouped nutrition-specific interventions into four areas which included improving care and feeding practices for children, enriching micronutrient content and improving nutrition among women and young adolescent girls. The study was undertaken to understand the expenditures at the state level after the implementation of the FCC recommendations. The study revealed that the expenditure on nutritionsensitive programmes increased in absolute numbers during the period (AE) to (BE) while it decreased as a proportion of total expenditure of the state. It was also found that food security and social safety nets formed the largest chunk of nutrition-sensitive interventions. While broadly following this classification of nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive expenditures, in the context of children it made sense to focus more on nutrition-specific expenditures to be able to understand the implications, needs and directions and examine if these expenditures require any change or enhancement Public Resources for Nutrition in India Structures, Estimates and Methodology 25

28 26 Public Expenditure on Child Nutrition in Karnataka

29 Chapter 3 Public Expenditure on Nutrition in Karnataka 3.1. Methodology Analysing nutrition expenditure is complex and the complexity increases when one attempts to separate the expenditures meant for children. Analysing the expenditure by way of nutritionspecific interventions is clear and possible, though navigation through the different budget heads is difficult. Expenditure on nutritionsensitive interventions is even more difficult owing to the limitations in defining nutrition-sensitive interventions, as explained earlier. Figure 5: Nutrition interventions (Indian context) Nutrition specific Nutrition sensitive Nutrition enabling Some interventions pertaining to rural development, especially those which do not figure under nutrition-sensitive interventions including rural connectivity, transport, electrification, and watershed management, could arguably have a higher potential to impact the lives of the rural poor, thereby impacting their nutritional behaviour as well. Thus, the whole gamut of expenditure son rural development gets into the zone of nutritionsensitive interventions and many of these are initiatives based on local needs. Similarly, a good proportion of expenditure meant for the urban poor also has the potential of impacting behaviour towards intake of nutritious food. Therefore, it is important to recognise and acknowledge them distinctly in the framework of analysis. These large numbers of rural development and other programmes, which have a higher potential to impact the lives of rural poor, could be termed as nutrition-enabling interventions as they target the environment in which the people live. It is also important to understand that attributing expenditures that affect nutrition is a highly difficult task. At the same time, while quantifying them as nutrition-enabling creates difficulties, acknowledging them as enablers is equally important. Our analysis of nutrition expenditure is confined to nutrition-sensitive and nutrition-specific, with a greater focus on the latter. Nutrition-sensitive expenditure highlights the inclination of the state government in incurring expenditure that improves the efficacy of the nutrition specific expenditure. This is confined to schemes of national importance, partly or substantially funded by GoI. Nutritionspecific expenditure is compiled by a thorough analysis of expenditure heads that affect child nutrition directly and this includes schemes funded both by the GoI and the state. The analysis of public expenditure on nutrition for children in Karnataka state is for a period of five years, from to The analysis is based primarily on the figures obtained from state budget documents. The economic survey documents, annual reports and websites of respective departments were used for understanding the physical parameters and financial progress of the schemes. Specific scheme documents were referred to wherever needed. In some cases, department officials were also consulted for additional information not available in the public domain. A. Nutrition-sensitive expenditure Given the importance of nutrition-sensitive interventions/programmes, schemes that are Public Expenditure on Nutrition in Karnataka 27

30 Figure 6: Nutrition sensitive sectors Social Protection Agriculture Health IMPROVED NUTRITION Development and Poverty Reduction Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women Education Source: Adapted from _000_Unicef_Brief_NutritionOverview_A4_v1r15.indd - Brief_Nutrition_Overview.pdf critical and substantially funded by the GoI are analysed. The analysis is expected to reflect the prioritisation of nutrition-sensitive interventions at the state level. The analysis cannot be construed as the analysis of total nutrition-sensitive expenditure as it does not include statespecific schemes that complement and supplement GoI nutritionsensitive schemes. Nevertheless, the analysis does give an indication of nutrition-sensitive expenditure covering important schemes focusing on the critical nutrition-sensitive sectors. B: Nutrition-specific expenditure Nutrition-specific expenditure refers to all expenses incurred by state governments on children from 0-18 years in the form of food and nutritional supplements, including the medical expenses of malnourished children. This is nutrition-specific expenditure which directly addresses issues relating to nutrition. It does not include the salary expenses related to implementation of nutrition interventions. Nutrition-specific expenditure in Karnataka includes the following: 1. Supplementary nutrition to pregnant and lactating mothers (Mathru Pustivardhini and Mathru Sam Poorna) 2. Nutrition to children aged 0-3 years and 3-6 years through ICDS 3. Midday meals provided in the schools (Akshara Dasoha) 4. Milk provided in anganwadis and schools for children (Ksheera Bhagya) 5. Food expenses in residential schools (government and aided) 6. Food expenses in hostels (run by social welfare, minority welfare, backward classes and tribal welfare departments) 7. Food expenses in orphanages run by government and aided institutions 8. Food expenses provided to needy students who do not get hostel accommodation 9. Food subsidies through the Public Distribution System (PDS) 10. Nutrition specific schemes such as the Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (SABLA), Bala Sanjeevini and Sneha Shivira 28 Public Expenditure on Child Nutrition in Karnataka

31 Some expenditures, such as child care allowances towards health and nutritional care of new born infants of visually impaired women, day care centres for children with autism and multiple disabilities, which have a component of food expenses, apart from healthcare and personnel expenses, are not counted. The food expenses, along with the other expenses, are subsumed under one head and it is very difficult to estimate the share of food expenses. 13 The above nutrition-specific expenditures are spread across various departments and directorates of the state government and are covered under different budget heads. Identification of a budget head in relation to a nutrition component is the first step and segregating nutrition expenditure the next. The budget heads across various departments were checked for nutrition-related components. The nutrition component is spread across education (budget head MH 2202), health and family welfare (budget head MH 2211), welfare of SC/ST and OBC (budget head MH 2225), social security and welfare (budget head MH 2235) and nutrition (budget head MH 2236) heads and extracting expenses exclusively on nutrition is a challenging task. While the major head 2236 in the budget document is exclusively related to nutrition, it also contains a salary element. Similarly, though the object code 373 is used for nutrition, it is not used for expenses other than that of the ICDS. Some schemes such as ICDS, MDM and SABLA have a separate account head for food expenses and therefore it was relatively easier to separate those. Inother cases, such as the maintenance of hostels/residential schools, the head includes food and other expenses as well, making it difficult to separate the expenses on food and nutrition. The food expenses of the hostel students/residential schools were therefore calculated based on per-student allocation of food expenses and the number of students for a period of 10 months (expenses are paid only for 10 months). The hostels are classified into pre-matric and post-matric hostels and the post-matric hostels include students from class XI and class XII While the major head 2236 in the budget document is exclusively related to nutrition, it also contains a salary element. Similarly, though the object code 373 is used for nutrition, it is not used for expenses other than that of the ICDS. (I and II PUC) as well as undergraduates/post graduates. In this case, it was important to separate students likely to be above 18 years of age. For that, an assumption was made that the students of I and II PUC would be 18 years and below and they constitute 50% of the total strength of the post-matric hostels. This then formed the basis of estimating food expenses for that head. This assumption was arrived at on the basis of consultations with officials dealing with the specific scheme in the BCWD. The government also provides for separate boarding and lodging charges for students who do not get hostel accommodation. In this case, since the expenditure is for both boarding and lodging, half of it was assumed to be meant for food. Population percentages of children (18 years and below) were used to arrive at the assumption for schemes where it was otherwise not possible to separate this group from the rest. Therefore, 32% (based on the population of children in the age group of 0-18) of the food subsidy through the Public Distribution System (PDS) was included in the estimation. 3.2 Total expenditure on nutritionsensitive interventions The state government s usual expenditure on health, education, agriculture, employment, labour and livelihood, early childhood, women and others have not been included in the nutrition-sensitive expenditure. These are viewed as nutrition-enabling public expenditure and, as explained earlier, do not form part of the estimation exercises we carried out. Under nutrition-sensitive expenditure, 13 However, since the size of such expenditure is very small, i.e., only about lakh per annum, it does not affect the macro picture either for the absolute total or for the trends over a period of time. Public Expenditure on Nutrition in Karnataka 29

32 schemes started by the GoI but continued with the support of both union and state governments are analysed. The rationale is that these expenditures have direct linkages with nutrition though they are not directly on nutrition these add value to the usual state expenditure in these sectors. The value addition is what we are taking note of, in this estimation. These include pace-setter schemes in the sectors of agriculture, drinking water and sanitation, employment, livelihoods, health, education and social security. The schemes relating to food security (PDS and mid-day meals) have been included under nutrition-specific expenditure. The expenditure, budget estimates and their sectorwise breakup for nutrition-sensitive expenditure are given in Table 1. It is clear that the allocations and expenditures on nutrition sensitive programmes/ schemes are increasing in both absolute numbers and as a proportion of state expenditure (Figure 7).The expenditures as a proportion of state expenditure increased during and it has Table 1: Expenditures on important nutrition-sensitive interventions/schemes SCHEMES RE BE Agriculture and Allied Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) Rashtriya Pashudhan Vikas Yojna Integrated Development and Management of Fisheries Water and Sanitation National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) Swachh Bharat Mission Labour and Livelihood Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) National Livelihood Mission Social Security National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) Indira Gandhi Matritava Sahyog Yojana (IGMSY) Health National Health Mission Education Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan Rashtriya Madhyamika Shiksha Abhiyaan Total (Rs. In lakhs) Total (Rs. In crores) Nominal Total (Rs. In crores) Real ( prices) Source: Budget documents and Annual Plan documents various years 30 Public Expenditure on Child Nutrition in Karnataka

33 Figure 7: Share of nutrition-sensitive interventions/ expenditures in total expenditure of the state (in %) Rs. in crores Figure 8: Nutrition-sensitive interventions/ expenditures in nominal and real terms Rs. in crores Nutrition expenditure (Nominal) Nutrition expenditure (Real prices) been hovering around 6.5%. This is indicative of the commitment of the state towards creating an enabling environment that addresses malnutrition. It is also important to note that the expenditure has not just increased in nominal but also in real terms (Figure 8) although the rate of increase in real expenditure is less (22%) than that of nominal expenditure (25%). 3.3 Total expenditure on nutritionspecific interventions 14 The following table lists different heads of nutrition using budget categories and provides the annual expenditure for five years. This includes expenditure coming through the union government in the form of centrally sponsored schemes in addition to that coming from the state government. While the first three years depict actual expenditure, the fourth year shows revised estimates and the fifth presents only budget estimates. The total expenditure on food and nutrition increased from Rs.2471 crore to Rs.6099 crore in the period of six years (Table 2). Although there has been a consistent increase in total expenditure in monetary terms, the increase has been most notable between and and during During these years, the increases were high even in real terms after adjusting the prices for inflation. The introduction of two schemes by the new government in power: (i) Ksheera Bhagya, making provision for milk in both anganwadis and schools, and (ii) Anna Bhagya, making provision for free additional food grains and other provisions at highly subsidised rates through PDS were mainly responsible for the jump in this expenditure during Similarly, the extension of provision of milk to school and anganwadi children for five days a week from the earlier three days a week has contributed to the increase during So far, it has been too early to gauge the impact of these two programmes on the nutritional status of children but it would be crucial for the state to understand to what extent such programmes have led to results, especially in view of the fact that Karnataka continues to report high prevalence of underweight and stunted children. Food expenses under MDM showed a steady increase over these years while food subsidy through PDS showed a continuous decline after , except for the current year This needs to be probed further. While the increase in MDM expenditure may be explained by way of enhancement in enrolment and uptake, the reduced expenditure in PDS might be indicative of reduced uptake or inefficient distribution. 14 The tables for the graphs in this section are provided in Annexure 2 Public Expenditure on Nutrition in Karnataka 31

34 Table 2: Public expenditure on nutrition-specific interventions for children in Karnataka (Rs. in crores) SL. No Description Block Grants National Nutrition Mission 2 Anna Bhagya for BPL beneficiaries towards subsidies for food grains 3 Universalisation of primary education Akshara Dasoha (mid-day meal) RE BE Sneha Shivira Multi-sectoral nutrition programme Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (SABLA) 7 Karnataka Comprehensive Nutrition 1.25 Mission Pilot project 8 Meeting medical expenses of malnourished children (Bala Sanjeevini) 9 GIA to orphanages (boarder charges) Orphanages Minorities Directorate Pre-matric Hostels Post-matric Hostels Residential schools Payment of extra boarding and lodging charges 15 Providing spirulina (180 days for 25, children) 16 Mathru Pustivardhini (nutrition to pregnant and lactating women)/mathru Poorna 17 Ksheera Bhagya anganwadi children Ksheera Bhagya anganwadi children full cream milk 19 Ksheera Bhagya school children Juvenile Justice children s homes food expenses 21 National child labour project- subsumed under state scheme -special residential school cum rehabilitation centres Total Source: Compiled from budget documents, based on various supporting scheme-related information 32 Public Expenditure on Child Nutrition in Karnataka

35 Figure 9: Public expenditure on nutrition-specific interventions for children in Karnataka Rs. in crores Though the amount spent on the nutrition of children is increasing both in nominal and real terms, the increase is not significant when compared with the increase in the total expenditure of the state (Figure 9). The amount spent on nutrition as a proportion of total expenditure of the state has been hovering around 3% over the last few years (in nominal terms). This share went up from less than three per cent in to more than 3.5% in but since then it has been declining except for the current year, which has increased marginally to 3.27% (Figure 10) RE BE BE Nominal expenditure on nutrition Real expenditure on nutrition ( prices) Source: GoK budget documents (Various years) 4799 Figure 10: Nutrition-specific expenditure as a proportion of total state expenditure Per cent (%) RE Source: State budget documents (Various years) BE BE Nutrition-related expenditures contribute fairly largely to all expenditure related to children. Using CBPS estimates for total public expenditure on children (CBPS 2017) as the base, it emerges that the share of nutrition expenditure in total public expenditure on children went up from about 12.19% in to nearly 18% in the following year but came down to 15.81% in and again rose to all-time high of 20.11% during (Figure 11). Figure 11: Nutrition-specific expenditure as a proportion of total expenditure on children Per cent (%) Per cent (%) Figure 12: Nutrition-specific expenditure on children as a proportion of GSDP Source: State budget documents (Various Years) RE RE BE Source: Nutrition expenditure compared to total public expenditure on children (CBPS) When viewed as a proportion of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), nutrition expenditure for children forms a very small component. This is to be expected, especially since total public expenditure on children aged between 0-18 years itself is only about 3-3.5% of GSDP in Karnataka (CBPS 2017). The share of nutrition expenditure varied between 0.47% and 0.63% during and (Figure 12). However, what needs to be noted is that this share has gone down to 0.55% and 0.56% in and revised estimates respectively. This needs to be watched seriously as this is indicative of lower allocations for this head as compared to other heads.whether this trend continues in the future and whether this means that the needs in this sector remain unaddressed are subjects for further attention BE Public Expenditure on Nutrition in Karnataka 33

36 Figure 13: Share of nutrition expenditure on children in different age groups 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% Children belonging to the 0-14 age bracket received about 80% of total nutrition expenditure in (Table 3). Since the relative shares of different age groups have not changed in different years, this can be taken as indicative of a general trend. While children on the 6-14 age bracket receive a proportion close to their numbers, the same is not true for adolescents. The nutrition expenditure of the 0-6 age group has been a little higher than their proportion in terms of population. This is a welcome trend, perhaps reflective of the higher focus on pregnant women and anganwadi children. Although adolescents form about onefourth of the total child population, they received only about 5% of the total nutrition expenditure. While high expenditure on the 0-6 year age group is understandable and justified (Figure 13), given the criticality of early years for a healthy adult life, adolescents also deserve greater attention. Table 3: Distribution of nutrition expenditure across age groups ( actual expenditure) 0% RE 0-6 year olds 6-14 year olds year olds Multiple age groups (0-18) Source: State budget documents (Various years) BE An important point about public expenditure on the nutrition of children in Karnataka is that the state is the main contributor. The GoI share in nutrition expenditure has been fairly constant at roughly 30% while the state contributes the remaining 70% (Figure 14). Although these estimates are based on a simple analysis of sharing patterns for different schemes rather than actual flow from the union government to state budgets, this gives us a fairly good indication of the distribution. The central share mostly constitutes expenses over the mid-day meal scheme, the National Nutrition Mission and towards boarding expenses of hostel for students, while the state s share mainly goes towards the costs towards food subsidies through the PDS, nutrition for anganwadi children and pregnant women and the Ksheera Bhagya (Table 4). Figure 14: Shares of centre and state in nutritionspecific expenditure on children Age group Percentage of total state population* (%) Percentage of total nutrition expenses (%) 0-6 years years years Multiple age groups *Child population figures obtained from public expenditure on children in Karnataka (CBPS 2017) 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% Centre Share State Share RE BE 34 Public Expenditure on Child Nutrition in Karnataka